A Pediatric Physical Therapists Thoughts On Pikler Triangles
Are pikler triangles really worth the money?
Answer: First, let me start by saying this is my opinion! I’ve used a lot of equipment in lots of therapy settings, & while pikler triangles are definitely a great tool & no doubt fun, I’ve laid out just a few of my personal pros and cons.
Also, in all honesty, if you’re handy you could DEFINITELY make one. There are tons of plans available online & it really wouldn’t be too complicated. Just something to keep in mind. But if you are in the market to purchase, here’s my list!
Before I go into general pros & cons, here are some ways you could use them for different age groups to target development:
Why Pikler Triangles Can Be Beneficial For Crawlers Through Pre-Walkers:
Encourage pre-crawling skills including:
Reaching with one hand
Weight shifting simulating crawling
Encourage hip strengthening through pulling to knees & kneeling play
Encourage pull to stand from knees (allows hands to assist, which are typically stronger from lots of tummy time!)
Encourage standing with hand support
Encourage pre-walking skills including:
Cruising with hand support
Letting go with one/both hands briefly
Develop standing balance with decreasing hand support
Supports body and safety awareness & fosters climbing skills
Encourage strengthening, confidence & motor planning skills
Great for burning energy, easily incorporated into obstacle courses & creative play (throw a blanket over part of it and make a tent, etc!)
Benefits of a Pikler For Walkers & Beyond:
Supports body and safety awareness & fosters climbing skills
Encourages strengthening, confidence & motor planning skills
Great for burning energy and easily incorporated into obstacle courses
Great for fostering imagination & creative play (ie: throw a blanket over part of it and make a tent, bring back crawling play by having them use it like a tunnel (crawling under like animals), and more!)
Overall Pros of Getting A Pikler Triangle For Your Child
Open ended play. they really are great for letting LO use their imagination! & they’re very aesthetically pleasing as well.
Obviously great for motor skill practice- climbing, motor planning & sequencing, core strengthening, weight bearing through hands, etc.
The one I purchased has different colored rungs, so it can also be fun to incorporate some color practice & motor planning into play!
Overall Cons of Pikler Triangles
Price tag
Not typically safe for independent use, even with children who are fairly safe in regards to body awareness and risk taking. I would not personally feel comfortable with it being somewhere that they could have unsupervised access to, and for something as expensive as it is, that’s kind of a bummer. I’m sure this is relative to each child and parents comfort level, so again, just my opinion!
I haven’t personally seen a great size option available for purchase that would last you a long time developmentally and get the most bang for your buck. For ex, the small ones that are better for younger babies may not be as fun for toddlers.
Overall, I think if you’re dead set on one, go for it, they’re great! But I certainly don’t think you NEED one. You can accomplish the same goals with things you likely already have in your home. Setting up obstacle courses, playing games like “climb the mountain” with couch cushions in a V or an ironing board wedged onto a couch (which can also be a slide) would work similarly and cost significantly less.
If you ARE ready to go all in on one - here are some pikler triangles I think are great (along with some other favorite large gross motor toys)!
Want More?
For developmental questions, tips and guidance related to milestones about tummy time, rolling & sitting, crawling and walking, check out KC’s developmental Masterclasses linked here.
KC is a pediatric doctor of physical therapy, wife and mom of three! She has spent her career working with children and young adults of all ability levels, and currently specializes in birth to three years.
